MUMBAI: Salman Rushdie’s 1981 Booker Prize Winning novel ‘Midnight’s Children’ had its theatrical premiere in the city last evening. The biggest names of Bollywood showed up to partake in the cinematic feast that is Deepa Mehta’s adaptation of Rushdie’s book.

The man and woman responsible for bringing us this wonderful cinematic treat, Rushdie and Mehta beamed from ear-to-ear at their star-studded film premiere. Rushdie looked dapper in a crisp white blazer and dark trousers, while Mehta was casual in a mustard yellow salwar-kurta.

The film’s cast attended the premiere, suitably excited about its theatrical release in India on Friday. Konkana Sen Sharma chose a black and red sari, while Shriya Saran and Shahana Goswami chose white (perhaps to please the very intelligent and intellectually stimulating author Rushdie). Rahul Bose was seen in a light cream suit, while Rajat Kapoor went navy blue in his choice of ensemble. Young Saleem Sinai aka Darsheel Safary chose a sharp steel grey blazer, and was seen with his mother throughout the event.

Other celebrities at the premiere included Arunoday Singh, Sudhir Mishra, Divya Dutta, Aditi Govitrikar, cricketer Yuvraaj Singh, and many others.

Sadly, the film’s hero Satya Bhabha and Soha Ali Khan were conspicuous by their absence. Perhaps they were a bit too influenced by a famous line from the book, by the unbelievably articulate Rushdie: “Most of what matters in our lives takes place in our absence.” A case of life imitating art, perhaps?

Needless to say, the film received a thunderous applause at the end of the screening. And deservedly so!